As the Echo reported on Tuesday evening, Liverpool are willing to make Southampton’s van Dijk the most expensive signing in the club’s history and they haven’t been put off by his £50million price tag.

That would smash Liverpool’s previous biggest spend - the £35million paid to Newcastle United in 2011 for Andy Carroll.

They are likely to face stiff competition from Arsenal, Chelsea, Everton and Manchester City in the race to buy the Holland international though.

With so many top Premier League clubs after him, Southampton will want to secure a high transfer value for van Dijk, who wants to play in the Champions League next season.

Virgil van Dijk of Southampton looks dejected

But on Facebook, some fans were blunt in their assessment of the defender.

Chris Rodda said “he’s not worth it”, Michael Simpson said “he’s ok, but not worth £50 million” and Tamil Maran said “too expensive for a defender”.

He said: “A year ago, the guy’s just another guy and a year later, he’s the best defender to ever lace ‘em up? Are scouts just that bad at recognising talent or did he really improve that much in the course of 12 months?”

Van Dijk has been sidelined with a foot injury since January and some Liverpool supporters are not keen on another player who could spend more time in the gym than on the pitch.

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On Facebook, Simon Williams asked “another sick note on the team sheet??? Company for Henderson &amp; Sturridge. Keep Sakho and spend the cash elsewhere” and West4Scouser said “been injured all year I believe. Just what we need”.

And on Twitter....

Jason Wadsworth said on Facebook that the club should “save the money for a top class striker and bring back Sakho. I mean jeez, the amount we have paid Southampton over the last few years we could of bought the club”.

Liverpool have flooded nearly £100million into the books of Southampton in recent years with Adam Lallana, Dejan Lovren, Sadio Mane, Nathaniel Clyne and Rickie Lambert all swapping St Mary’s for Anfield.

Virgil van Dijk of Southampton celebrates as he scores against Spurs

With Jurgen Klopp eyeing another potential target on the south coast, Liverpool fans have a novel suggestion.

On the ECHO website, Shagrath37 said: “Hate seeing us getting mugged by the Saints year in year out! How about signing their scouts instead?

Some supporters think other targets are more likely to sign or aren’t confident Liverpool will secure the Champions League qualification which is surely a prerequisite of signing van Dijk.

But some are on board with the club battling to get van Dijk.

On Facebook, Jake Conlon said “stop talking &amp; just get it done” and Richard Daniel added “he’s worth every penny”.

Saints bought the centre-back from Celtic for £13million two years ago and RedBhoy on the ECHO website wished Liverpool had stumped up the cash for the player then.

But he added: “But still not a waste of money [now]. He is easily one of the best in Europe and we are in bad shape at the back, that’s no secret.

“We need a guaranteed player, no more players with possible potential!!!”

Realscout would like to see Mamadou Sakho sold for £25million, which he said would free Liverpool up to spend £50million on van Dijk.

A poll on our website shows most supporters would stop at £30million in a bidding war though.

A third chose that figure as the most to spend on van Dijk, but a quarter would shell out £50million and 24% picked £40million.

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How much would you pay for Van Dijk?

0+ VOTES SO FAR

More than a tenth (12%) would willingly part with £60million but 6% would get out of the race if it goes past the £20million mark.